Australian actress Zoe Caldwell has already played the part of Cleopatra, and to much acclaim. But her desire for the role, often considered the greatest of Shakespeare's women, gave her the title for her autobiography, "I Will Be Cleopatra," published by W.W. Norton and Company, Inc. in fall 2001.

Australian actress Zoe Caldwell has already played the part of Cleopatra, and to much acclaim. But her desire for the role, often considered the greatest of Shakespeare's women, gave her the title for her autobiography, "I Will Be Cleopatra," published by W.W. Norton and Company, Inc. in fall 2001.

Caldwell will read bits of her story 8 PM March 25 at Manhattan Theatre Club's Stage I as a part of the 2002 Writers in Performance literary series.

Caldwell is an exclusively theatrical phenomenon. Her film and television appearances have been scarce, but her Broadway turns are legend (though also relatively few). The joke goes that whenever Caldwell graces a stage, she wins a Tony Award. She has collected four in total, most recently for playing Maria Callas in Terrence McNally's Master Class. Other triumphs include Medea and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.

Tickets are $15. Manhattan Theatre Club is located at 131 West 55th Street in City Center. For reservations, call (212) 399-3030.

* Upcoming Writers in Performance are:

April 1: "This Side of Parodies" with Paul Giamatti April 29: "All I Can See From Where I Stood": Edna St. Vincent Millay with Andrew McCarty and Campbell Scott May 6: William Kennedy: "Roscoe" May 20: Jonathan Franzen: " The Corrections"